By Mary Daniels, Karen Klages
Marjorie David and Tran Ha

BUY IT: Homeowners who have been thinking about upholstering the sofa in the den, or creating new draperies for the dining room, can get out their tapes and start measuring right now. For the first time, The Merchandise Mart Designer Center is going to hold a Fabric Salon as part of its Treasure Hunt sample sale May 6 and 7.

Fine fabric fanciers will be able to shop from great names such as Kravet Fabrics, Robert Allen Fabrics and F. Schumacher. These showrooms will be offering fabrics at a 60 percent to 75 percent discount. A few showrooms also will offer unique tassels to tie back drapes.

Most of the fabrics are for upholstering. If you don’t have a large project in mind, buy a smaller piece, have it framed and hang it as wall art.

The Mart’s sample sales provide an opportunity for the public to shop where normally only design professionals do. The Mart’s Designer Center is able to offer a wide-ranging collection of samples, originals and new merchandise at this sale.

Participants this year, says Jeanne Fisher, managing director of marketing, Design Center, at The Mart, include showrooms such as Holly Hunt, George Smith, Interior Crafts, Baker Knapp & Tubbs, F. Schumacher, Stark Carpet, Nancy Corzine, Henredon, Century, Lee Jofa and Beacon Hill.

But there will be thousands of treasures for the home beyond fabrics — including furniture, rugs, lighting, art and accessories. They will be discounted up to 75 percent .

In addition, , there will be free design seminars and 20 designers who will offer free design consultations. “Attendees should be encouraged to bring in their toughest design dilemmas, as well as floor plans, room photos or magazine pages of rooms they like so they can get the most out of the free 20-minute visit,” Fisher says. The Merchandise Mart Design Center, 7th floor, Kinzie and Wells Streets. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $10. 800-677-6278. www.merchandisemart.com/designcenter.